M.A.C's Most Wanted Makeup at the Shows

We like to think we work pretty hard during the fashion shows, but we've gotta give props to M.A.C.—their team of makeup artists worked nearly 200 shows in New York City, London, Milan, and Paris during the recent fall 2010 collections. (We can't even imagine how many tubes of mascara that amounts to, but we imagine it's a lot.) Recently, the company let us in on some of their MVP's—most frequently used products—of the season. Here's how to make them work for you:

1. Face and Body Foundation
Though the name makes it sounds as though it's thick enough to cover a tattoo, this foundation is actually what the artists reach for when creating natural makeup looks, such as at Balmain and Rodarte. It's a lightweight, water-based formula, so it evens out the skin just enough to look pulled together without being heavy. And yes, you can also use it to hide imperfections on your legs and other parts of your body, since it's water-resistant and won't easily melt off.

2. Opulash Mascara
This new volumizing and curling mascara, which is coming to stores soon, has a supersized brush that's great for creating crazy-big lashes, like at DSquared.

3. Eye Kohl in Smolder
Not all black pencils are created equal, and what makes this one so popular backstage is its versatility: the creamy formula is easy to blend and smudge, but once it dries, it stays put and doesn't run. It was used to create smoky eyes, such as at Diane von Furstenberg and Max Mara, and for wild looks like Zac Posen.

4. Lip Pencil in Cherry
We know what you're thinking—how many women actually use lip pencil in real life? Well, we watched the M.A.C. artists wield this bright red one at Donna Karan (above) and DSquared, and here's why we recommend trying it: If you're doing a red mouth, filling in your lips first with a pencil that matches your lipstick shade not only helps the color last, but it intensifies the red so it looks richer and truer. And seeing as how red lips are going to be huge this fall, it's a great item to stock in your makeup bag. This cherry pencil looks great with M.A.C. Lipsticks in Lady Danger, a bright coral-red, or Russian Red, a classic blue-based red.